"COVID-19, Epidemic Continues Until the End of This Month... Vaccinations Scheduled for October (Comprehensive)"

Early Introduction of 180,000 Treatment Courses on the 26th
Social Distancing and Crisis Level Not Raised
Fatality Rate at Seasonal Flu Level... Focus on Protecting High-Risk Groups

As the COVID-19 outbreak this summer is expected to continue until the end of this month and then decrease, the government has decided to expedite the introduction of COVID-19 treatments for about 180,000 people on the 26th. The current outbreak situation is viewed as part of the process of COVID-19 becoming endemic, with a focus on protecting high-risk groups such as the elderly and those with underlying conditions.

On the 21st, Ji Young-mi, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), stated at a COVID-19 task force briefing, "The summer outbreak is expected to increase until the end of August and then decrease," adding, "This outbreak does not require reinstating social distancing or raising the crisis level, and it can be managed within the current healthcare system."

According to KDCA's sample surveillance of 220 hospital-level medical institutions, the number of COVID-19 hospitalized patients increased from 226 in the third week of July to 1,366 in the second week of this month. Considering the COVID-19 outbreak trends over the past two years, KDCA expects the number of patients to rise until the end of this month to a level similar to the peak in previous years (349,000 new confirmed cases in the second week of August last year) and then gradually decrease.

Jiyoungmi, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, is giving a briefing on the analysis of the summer COVID-19 outbreak and the government's response on the 21st at the briefing room of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in Osong, Chungbuk.
[Photo by Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency]

Commissioner Ji explained, "This outbreak is a complex result of relatively low COVID-19 spread last winter, a low vaccination rate (41.3% for those aged 65 and older), and an increased share of the newly emerged variant KP.3," adding, "The fatality rate is similar to that of seasonal influenza." Over the past four years, the cumulative fatality rate of COVID-19 was 0.1%, and especially after the Omicron variant, last year's domestic COVID-19 fatality rate was even lower at 0.05%. Regarding KP.3, which currently has the highest variant share domestically and internationally, immune evasion ability has slightly increased compared to previous variants, but there have been no reports linking it to increased severity upon infection.

Commissioner Ji stated, "The current outbreak situation should be seen as part of the process of COVID-19 becoming endemic, not as a crisis like the previous COVID-19 pandemic," adding, "However, caution is needed due to the high fatality rate among the elderly, and the government is making every effort to protect high-risk groups such as the elderly and those with underlying conditions to minimize health damage."

180,000 Treatment Courses to be Prioritized for Introduction on the 26th

Accordingly, KDCA plans to respond to this outbreak by strengthening management of infection-vulnerable facilities and medical response, establishing COVID-19 infection prevention guidelines, securing supplies of COVID-19 treatments and diagnostic kits, and conducting vaccination for the 2024?2025 season.

Initially, KDCA planned to introduce treatments for 140,000 people next week, but after consultations with global pharmaceutical companies, 177,000 treatment courses will be prioritized for introduction on the 26th. This will allow additional supply to pharmacies and others next week, ensuring stable availability of treatments. The newly secured quantity will be supplied to high-risk groups until October, and from October onward, efforts will be made with relevant authorities to register the treatments under health insurance so they can be supplied within the general healthcare system.

Commissioner Ji said, "The COVID-19 outbreak is expected to peak around next week, but the actual scale may be somewhat smaller than anticipated," adding, "The earlier-than-expected introduction of treatments will help stabilize the situation faster than expected."

Regarding COVID-19 self-test kits, it has been confirmed that 3.25 million units were produced and distributed by 10 domestic manufacturers from the 1st to the 16th of this month. This is 28 times the amount produced in July (116,000 units) and three times the highest production month this year, April (1.1 million units).

The COVID-19 JN.1 vaccine, effective against recent variants, will be introduced and administered starting in October. KDCA explains that the currently prevalent KP.3 variant does not show significant genetic differences from another variant, JN.1, so the JN.1 vaccine is expected to be effective against KP.3 as well.

Accordingly, KDCA is currently undergoing approval procedures to allow simultaneous administration of the influenza (flu) vaccine and the COVID-19 vaccine starting in October. High-risk groups, including seniors aged 65 and older, immunocompromised individuals, and residents or inpatients of infection-vulnerable facilities, will be able to receive the vaccine free of charge.

Commissioner Ji urged, "To safely get through this outbreak, it is important to adhere to COVID-19 infection prevention guidelines," adding, "High-risk groups, including the elderly, should carefully follow preventive measures such as wearing masks and actively participate in the new JN.1 COVID-19 vaccination starting in October."